ON THIS EPISODE OF CYCLE OF HEALTH, SYRACUSE HEALTHY START.

JOIN US AT THE ROSAMOND GIFFORD ZOO FOR SYRACUSE STROLL, A COMMUNITY EVENT HELPING FAMILIES RAISE HAPPY AND HEALTHY BABIES.

THEN HEAR FROM A TEAM OF HEALTH EXPERTS WORKING TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF MOMS, BABIES, AND FAMILIES RIGHT HERE IN ONONDAGA COUNTY.

OH BABY THIS IS ONE YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS.

COMING UP ON THE SEASON FINALE OF CYCLE OF HEALTH.

HELLO AND WELCOME TO CYCLE OF HEALTH, I'M DR. RICH O'NEILL.

I'M G-BUB, GRAND BUB AND WE ARE HIGHLIGHTING SYRACUSE HEALTHY START PROGRAM IMPROVING THE LIVES OF FAMILIES AND BABIES HERE IN THE 3-1-5 WITH A MAJOR GOAL OF REDUCING INFANT MORTALITY -- AS OF 2019, 4 OF EVERY 1,000 BABIES BORN HERE - DIED.

IN THE 1980S, IT WAS 18 OUT OF EVERY 1,000 SO BIG PROGRESS.

NEW MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY HAS HELPED BUT IT'S ALSO BEEN LOCAL SERVICES, LIKE SYRACUSE HEALTHY START.

TONIGHT, WE'RE JOINED BY THREE KEY REPS FROM THE PROGRAM TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT THEY DO TO KEEP OUR BABIES AND THEIR PARENTS HAPPY AND HEALTHY.

LET'S MEET OUR GUESTS.

SUNNY JONES: PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATOR AT SYRACUSE HEALTHY START JEHROD HALL: FATHERHOOD SPECIALIST AT SYRACUSE HEALTHY START AND BETHANY CREASER: PROGRAM OFFICER OF CLINICAL, FAMILY, & PEER SUPPORT SERVICES AT CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF ONONDAGA COUNTY AND OUR SPECIAL GUEST, GROVER AND BIG BIRD.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH COOKIE MONSTER.

>> I DO.

SOME YEARS AGO I WAS READING A PACKAGE FROM A COOKIE MONSTER TOY AND IT SAID COOKIE MONSTER'S BIRTHDAY IS NOVEMBER 2 AND I WAS ECSTATIC.

I WAS LIKE THAT'S MY BIRTHDAY.

>> HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

SO MY CLAIM TO FAME IS THAT I SHARE A BIRTHDAY WITH COOKIE MONSTER.

>> GREAT!

AND SO HEALTHY START.

TELL US ABOUT HEALTHY START.

HEALTHY START HAS BEEN IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR 25 YEARS.

IT IS ONE OF THE PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THE ONONDAGA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, HEALTHY FAMILIES PROGRAMS.

IT SERVES PARENTS WITH CHILDREN WHO ARE, PARENTS WHO ARE PREGNANT OR WHO HAVE CHILDREN UP TO 18 MONTHS OLD, IT WORKS IN CONJUNCTION WITH ALL THE OTHER HEALTHY FAMILIES PROGRAMS, SUCH AS WIC, LEAD PREVENTION.

WORKS WITH SPECIAL CHILDREN'S SERVICES IN EARLY INTERVENTION AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS LIKE US LIKE CATHOLIC CHARITIES WHO ALSO WORK WITH THE EARLY CHILDHOOD ALLIANCE AND PROGRAMS THAT ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO ENSURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR BABIES.

IT IS A FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAM AND WE PROVIDE EDUCATION, WE PROVIDE RESOURCES PACK AND PLAY AND SLEEP SACKS.

WE PROVIDE HOME VISITING AND SOCIAL WORK AND WE ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES.

>> WOW.

THAT'S-- AND I UNDERSTAND YOU LINK IN WITH JEROD.

TELL US ABOUT HOW YOU CONNECT WITH ALL OF OF THOSE SERVICES.

>> I'M THE FATHERHOOD COORDINATOR.

I REACH OUT TO DADS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE PART OF THEIR KIDS LIVES AND THAT STARTS FROM PRENATAL ON.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GETTING DADS INVOLVED AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.

THE MORE DADS ARE INVOLVED, THE BETTER THE OUTCOMES OF THE BIRTHS WE ARE HAVING.

WE SEE MOMS MORE LIKELY TO MAKE IT TO THEIR APPOINTMENTS BECAUSE DAD IS INVOLVED.

LESS STRESS IN THE HOUSEHOLD, BETTER BIRTH RATES AND BIRTH WEIGHTS.

WE ARE TRYING GET DADS INVOLVED.

>> SO US DADS, I KNOW YOU ARE A DAD, TOO.

US DADS ACTUALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> WE DO.

>> WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE.

SUNNY, TELL US ABOUT YOUR ROLE.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> THE PUBLIC EDUCATOR FOR HEALTHY START PROGRAM.

I PROVIDE EDUCATION TO THE COMMUNITY THAT CAN EITHER BE DOING IN-PERSON SESSIONS IN CLASSES AND DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS OR THAT CAN BE DOING ADVERTISEMENT ON THE BUSES, ON BILLBOARDS, AND ALSO PUTTING ON EVENTS LIKE WE DID AT THE SYRACUSE STROLL AT THE ZOO.

>> SO SPEAKING OF SYRACUSE STROLL AT THE ZOO.

WE WENT OUT THERE TO SEE YOU GUYS DO THAT.

LAST WEEK WAS SYRACUSE HEALTHY START PUT ON THE SYRACUSE STROLL AT THE ROSAMOND GIFFORD ZOO.

THE EVENT WAS DURING INFANT MORTALITY AWARENESS MONTH AND THE THEME WAS TO 'CELEBRATE EVERY BABY'S FIRST BIRTHDAY.'

PLUS, WHO DOESN'T LIKE STROLLING AROUND THE ZOO?

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> THE SYRACUSE STROLL IS AN EVENT THAT IS PART 69 INFANT MORTALITY CAMPAIGN.

SO THIS IS A PART OF THE NATIONAL HEALTHY START PROGRAM.

AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE RECOGNIZING INFANT MORTALITY AWARENESS.

SO THIS IS A CELEBRATION OF REACHING THE MILESTONE OF REACHING A FIRST BIRTHDAY FOR A CHILD.

>> SO TODAY WE HONOR THOSE FAMILIES AND WE HOLD THE HANDS OF THOSE BABIES WHO DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THEIR FIRST BIRTHDAY.

WE SAY THANK YOU TO EACH OF YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE TO ENSURE THE HEALTH OF YOUR FAMILY.

ENJOY YOURSELVES.

WE CELEBRATE YOU.

WE ARE SO GLAD YOU CAME OUT.

>> TODAY THERE ARE A LOT OF FAMILIES WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

WE HAVE THOSE THAT ARE ONE OR GETTING READY TO APPROACH THEIR FIRST BIRTHDAY AND THEY'RE GOING TO LEARN INFORMATION FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY VENDORS ON HOW TO KEEP THEIR FAMILIES SAFE AND REACH THAT MILESTONE OF THE FIRST BIRTHDAY.

THOSE THAT WOULD BENEFIT FROM THIS EVENT ARE GOING TO BE FAMILIES.

THOSE THAT ARE RAISING CHILDREN THAT ARE INFANTS UP TO THEIR FIRST BIRTHDAY AND BEYOND.

ANYBODY WHO GETS THAT INFORMATION CAN PASS IT ON TO SOMEONE THEY MIGHT KNOW WHO MIGHT STILL BE PREGNANT OR RAISING A CHILD.

SO REACH THAT FIRST MILESTONE BIRTHDAY.

TRADITIONALLY THAT EVENT TOOK PLACE IN A PARK AND THEY WOULD WALK AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND AGAIN JUST SHOW THE COMMUNITY WHAT WAS GOING ON.

BUT SINCE WE ARE DOING IT AT THE ZOO TODAY, THAT WILL BE THE ACTUAL STROLL ITSELF.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO HOLD THIS EVENT DURING INFANT MORTALITY AWARENESS MONTH, WHICH IS SEPTEMBER, BECAUSE THIS IS, AGAIN, A PART OF THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGNS THAT ARE GOING AROUND NATIONWIDE.

WE REALLY HOPE THAT THE COMMUNITY GETS THE INFORMATION THAT WE WANT THEM TO HAVE; THAT THEY CAN SPREAD THIS MESSAGE OUT TO, AGAIN, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE TEACHING EVERYBODY HOW TO HAVE A HEALTHY PREGNANCY, HOW TO KEEP THEIR FAMILY SAFE AND AGAIN JUST FINDING OUT WHAT LOCAL RESOURCES WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> SO IN THE VIDEO THERE, I DIDN'T REALLY SEE MY PHASE, THE ELEPHANT.

HERE IS WHAT I USED TO DO WITH MY KIDS.

SO JERAD, MY KIDS WOULD DO THAT BACK TO ME, RIGHT?

IS THAT AN EXAMPLE OF SERVE AND RETURN, THE KIND OF THING YOU DO TO ENGAGE YOUR LITTLE ONES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S ACTUALLY A PERFECT EXAMPLE.

ONE OF THE THINGS YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING WITH OUR CHILDREN IS, WE ARE HELPING THEM GROW AND LEARN SO WHEN WE ARE DOING THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, THEY'RE STARTING TO MIMIC US BACK.

WHEN WE MAKE THE FUNNY VOICES WHEN WE ARE READING TO THEM, AND SINGING TO THEM, THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO GO AHEAD AND UNDERSTAND THOSE SOUNDS AND START TO DO THEM BACK HELPING THEIR COGNITIVE FUNCTION.

WE ARE HELPING OUR KIDS WE ARE OUR KIDS FIRST TEACHERS WHETHER WE REALIZE IT OR NOT.

>> COGNITIVE AND EMOTIONAL BECAUSE FOR ME THAT WAS REALLY FUN DO THAT.

THEY'RE LEARNING TO HAVE FUN WITH OTHER PEOPLE.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST COMMON QUESTIONS PARENTS TO BE OR PARENTS HAVE?

>> I WOULD SAY AT THAT TIME WE HAVE PARENTS THAT ARE ALWAYS WORRIED THAT THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING WRONG OR THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

AS A MOM, I BELIEVE THAT BEING A PARENT IS THE HARDEST JOB I'VE EVER HAD BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY PARENT IN OUR COMMUNITY KNOWS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS REALLY IMPORTANT HARD JOB ALONE.

THAT THEY GET SUPPORT.

AND WE SOME AWR SHEM THEY'RE DOING A GOOD JOB WITH THEIR KIDS AND KEEPING THEM SAFE.

>> I IMAGINE YOU BUILD ON THAT.

AND THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS PEOPLE HAVE FOR YOU.

>> SOMETIMES WE GET QUESTIONS JUST ABOUT, RIGHT, LIKE WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?

WHAT IS THE BIRTHING PROCESS GOING TO BE LIKE?

WHAT IS MY RECOVERY GOING GOING TO FEEL LIKE?

IS IT GOING TO HURT IF I BREAST FEED.

MY COUSIN DID IT AND DIDN'T LIKE IT.

SOMETIMES IT'S REINFORCING THAT YOUR BIRTHING EXPERIENCE AND PARENTING STYLE IS UP TO YOU, THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO TAKE ADVICE FROM SOME PEOPLE BUT SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO LEARN FOR YOURSELF AND WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM THE INFORMATION OF WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY IS GOING TO BE BEST AND YOU CAN DO TAKE THAT AND DO WHAT YOU WANT WITH IT.

IT'S REALLY GIVING THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT THE FAMILIES NEED.

>> SO YOU GUYS DO REALLY A WHOLE RANGE OF SERVICE IS.

YOU ARE PROVIDING SERVICES DIRECTLY.

YOU ARE, YOU KNOW, GIVING THEM HELP TO CONNECT TO OTHER EXPERTS.

ARE THERE SPECIFIC THINGS DADS QUITE WONDER ABOUT, JEROD?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

FOR FATHERS, IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE BECAUSE THEIR SYSTEM HAS BEEN SET UP FOR MOM AND THE BABIES SO A LOT OF DADS DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR THEM.

ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I ASK DADS WHEN I HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM IS PUT MOM AND BABY ASIDE, WHAT DO YOU NEED TO BE THE BEST MAN AND FATHER YOU CAN BE.

SO I AM STARTING OFF WITH THEM AND THEY HAVE SOMEONE IN THEIR CORNER TO SUPPORT THEM.

WE ARE GOING TO FIND THE RESOURCES WE NEED FOR MOM AND BABY AS WELL AS DAD BUT I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT SOMEBODY IS FOCUSED ON THEM AND THEY HAVE SOMEBODY LOOKING OUT FOR THEM.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DISCOVERED AFTER WE HAD A BABY WAS SLEEP DEPRIVATION WAS HORRIBLE!

I MEAN IT WAS LIKE THE WORST THING IN THE WORLD.

AND I REMEMBER GETTING A CARD FROM A COLLEAGUE THAT SAID CONGRATULATIONS ON HAVING YOUR BABY, YAHOO!

AND THEN IT OPENED UP THE CARD AND IT SAID OPEN THIS CARD AND LOOK AT IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT DURING THESE FEEDINGS.

LIKE OH YEAH!

SO TELL US ABOUT THE ABCs OF SLEEP.

AND SLEEP TRAINING?

>> SPACE SLEEP IS SOMETHING WE PROMOTE AND TALK ABOUT.

A IS THAT THEY SLEEP ALONE, B IS ON THEIR BACK, SAFE IN A BARE NAKED CRIB.

NO BUMPER PADS OR TOYS OR BLANKETS.

>> SO THEN DON'T ROLL OVER AND SUFFICIENT SUFFOCATE.

SLEEP SACK PREFERRED BUT THOSE ARE THE ABCs OF SAFE SLEEP.

>> MY GRANDSON, MY SON AND HIS WIFE JUST TRAINED THE LITTLE GUY TO SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT AT ABOUT A COUPLE MONTHS IN.

HE WAS AN ERRATIC SLEEPER.

AND THEY DID SOMETHING CALLED SLEEP TRAINING.

DO-- ARE YOU GUYS FAMILIAR WITH THIS OR SOMETHING THAT-- >> I'M NOT.

I NEED IT.

I HAVE A TWO-MONTH-OLD.

>> I'M TELLING YOU, IT WAS THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD FOR THEM BECAUSE THE LITTLE GUY WENT FROM BEING UP ERRATICALLY TO SLEEPING STARTING AT 7:30 EVERY NIGHT AND WAKE UP AROUND 5:30, 6:30.

IT WAS AMAZING TRANSFORMATION.

ANYWAY, I WISH I HAD THAT WHEN I WAS A KID.

LEARNED ABOUT THAT.

I'LL PASS THAT ALONG.

I THINK YOU WILL HAVE SOME REALLY HAPPY DADS.

ARE THERE THINGS THAT SYRACUSE HEALTHY START CONCRETELY PROVIDES TO FAMILIES FINANCIALLY?

THINGS TO HELP OUT?

ARE THERE THINGS THAT YOU DO?

>> SO FOR THE PROGRAM, WE ARE ABLE TO GIVE INFORMATION.

WE ARE ABLE TO GIVE REFERRALS TO DIFFERENT RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE ARE ALSO ABLE TO PROVIDE LIKE BETHANY MENTIONED, LIKE THE PACK AND PLACE FOR SAFE SLEEP, DIAPERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IF SOMEBODY NEEDS TO GET CONNECTED TO A FOOD PANTRY OR A DIAPER BANK, WE CAN GIVE THEM THAT INFORMATION.

BUT OUR GOAL IS THAT IF SOMEBODY NEEDS THOSE RESOURCES, WE WANT TO GET THEM TO THE NEXT LEVEL SO THAT THEY CAN GET THROUGH THAT BARRIER.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE PROGRAM IS REALLY ABOUT HEALTH EQUITY.

AND GETTING ACCESS TO GOOD HEALTHCARE.

SO MAKING SURE THAT IF SOMEBODY HAS A GOAL OF GOING BACK TO SCHOOL AND, YOU KNOW, FURTHERING THEIR EDUCATION OR APPLYING FOR A NEW JOB, WE ARE ABLE TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE THOSE SYSTEMS AND DO THE APPLICATIONS SO THAT THEY NO LONGER ARE DEPENDENT ON SO MUCH OF THE COMMUNITY RESOURCES; THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO GET THE SUSTAINABILITY FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES SO THEY CAN PASS THIS INFORMATION ON TO SOMEBODY ELSE AND MAYBE THEY DON'T NEED IT ANY LONGER.

>> SO YOU ARE PROVIDING A FOUNDATION FOR MOMS AND DADS AND THEIR BABIES SO THAT THEN IF THEY CAN GET REENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ENGAGED, THAT WOULD HELP OUT WITH PEOPLE GETTING JOBS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN I'M OR DEALING WITH DADS, I FIND OUT WHAT THEY NEED AND WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.

WE HAVE RESOURCES AND CONNECTIONS WITH PEOPLE.

RIGHT IN OUR OFFICE THERE IS A WORKFORCE COORDINATOR.

I TAKE THEM DOWN THE HALL AND INTRODUCE THEM TO THE WORKFORCE COORDINATOR WHO HELP THEM FILL OUT APPLICATIONS, BUILD THEIR RESUME.

IF THEY WANT TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL, WE GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS OF GETTING THEM BACK INTO SCHOOL.

SIGN UP FOR HEALTHCARE.

I'LL GO THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH THEM.

WE HAVE CONNECTIONS WITH A COUPLE OF OUR LOCAL PROVIDERS THAT WE MAKE A PHONE CALL AND THEY'RE GETTING, YOU KNOW, THE INFORMATION RIGHT THERE ON THE SPOT AND THEY'RE GETTING SIGNED UP ON THE SPOT.

WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT DOING THE WORK FOR THEM BUT WE ARE PUTTING THEM IN A POSITION WHERE HEY, WE GOT YOU CONNECTED WITH EVERYBODY THAT YOU NEED TO BE CONNECTED WITH AND IF YOU NEED ME TO, I'LL SIT THERE AND MAKE THAT PHONE CALL AND SIT ON THE COMPUTER WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING IT DONE SO WE CAN MAKE YOU WHOLE.

IT'S THE HEALTH EQUITY.

IF WE ARE MAKING YOU WHOLE, THEN EVERYBODY IN THE FAMILY IS GOING TO BENEFIT.

>> SO YOU ARE LIKE A STRUCTURE FOR THE DAD FOR THE MOM, FOR THE BABY.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT FAMILY STRUCTURE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BABY?

>> THE WHOLE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF THE FAMILY UNIT; WE SAY OUR CLIENT IS THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP REALLY.

AND YOU MEET ALL THE NEEDS AS JEROD AND SUNNY SAID.

>> LET ME GET THAT.

THE GOAL IS THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP REALLY.

YOU ARE REALLY WORKING TO DEVELOP A GOOD RELATIONSHIP.

>> BEFORE THE BABY IS EVEN BORN, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PARENTS ARE SUPPORTED AND THAT FURTHER HELPS WITH THE BABY.

IF YOU GIVE THEM THE RIGHT TOOLS, THE RESOURCES AND THE SUPPORTS, THIS THE GIVES THAT BABY AND THAT MOM OR DAD OR FAMILY UNIT-- WE HAVE GRAND PARENTS CARING FOR CHILDREN, YOU KNOW.

THEY LOVE THEIR KIDS AND KEEP THEM SAFE AND HAVE THE TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO DO SO.

>> I REMEMBER READING AN INTERVIEW WITH A VERY FAMOUS CHILD DEVELOPMENT EXPERT AT CORNELL WHO PASSED AWAY, WHOSE NAME, OF COURSE, SO FAMOUS I CAN'T REMEMBER IT RIGHT NOW.

ANYWAY, HE SAID, IF YOU BOIL DOWN HIS 40-YEAR CAREER TO ONE SENTENCE.

HE SAID YOU WANT TO MAKE YOUR BABY FEEL LIKE THE ABSOLUTE CENTER OF YOUR UNIVERSE, LIKE THEY ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN YOUR LIFE.

SO IN A WAY, WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING IS REMOVING SOME OF THE OBSTACLES TO HAVING THAT RELATIONSHIP, THAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTS AND THEIR BABIES.

YOU LOOK LIKE YOU ARE ABOUT TO SAY SOMETHING.

>> JUST BUILDING OFF WHAT BETHANY SAID, YOU KNOW, THAT RELATIONSHIP DOES START EVEN JUST DURING CONCEPTION BECAUSE IF YOU START TO THINK ABOUT YOUR CHILD AND WHAT YOU ARE DOING, IF I AM A SMOKER, AND NOW I'M PREGNANT, THAT MEANS I NEED TO STOP SMOKING BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S BETTER FOR MY BABY AND IT'S BETTER FOR ME AND THAT, YOU KNOW, I CAN PASS THAT MESSAGE ALONG TO SOMEBODY IN MY HOUSE TO SAY I WANT THIS TO BE A SMOKE-FREE HOME BECAUSE IT'S BET FOR OUR FAMILY AND CHILD.

IF I DRINK ALCOHOL OR USING DRUGS, SAME CONCEPT.

THAT IF I CAN START TO THINK ABOUT MY CHILD AND THE RELATIONSHIP THAT I WANT TO HAVE WITH MY CHILD, TO BE HEALTHY, THEN I KNOW THAT I NEED TO REACH OUT TO SOMEBODY FOR THE SUPPORT TO STOP THESE HABITS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO BE THE HEALTHIEST FOR MYSELF AND FOR MY UNBORN CHILD.

AND AGAIN, KEEPING THAT GOING ONCE THE BABY IS HERE IN THE WORLD, HOW DO I MAINTAIN THIS HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP FOR MYSELF WITH MY CHILD.

SO AGAIN, THE FAMILY AS A WHOLE CAN BE HEALTHY.

>> AND I UNDERSTAND YOU FOLKS HAVE LIKE A SOCIAL WORKER ON STAFF WHO HELPS PEOPLE GET CONNECTED TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND MAYBE ADDICTION SERVICES IF THEY NEED TO.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS?

LIKE IF YOU GUYS AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT IS SUCCESS DEFINED?

>> WHEN I GET NEW CLIENTS, THEY TEND TO CALL ME QUITE A BIT.

SO THAT FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS, IT'S THREE, FOUR, FIVE TIMES A DAY AND THAT'S FINE.

I'M HERE.

THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE FOR.

WHEN I START HEARING FROM A CLIENT ONCE A MONTH, THEN I KNOW WE ARE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE GETTING THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.

THEY'RE CALLING ME WITH SUCCESS STORIES, TELLING ME HEY, I GOT THAT JOB OR HEY, I JUST WENT BACK TO SCHOOL.

I JUST HAD A CLIENT THAT JUST GOT HIS G.E.D.

AND YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT I PASSED THE TEST WITH HIM BECAUSE HE CALLED ME SO EXCITED AND IT MADE MY HEART SMILE.

AND SO I TELL THOSE GUYS, YOU KNOW, THERE IS NO SUCH THING-- THE ONLY PLACE THAT YOU SEE THE WORD SUCCESS BEFORE WORK IS IN THE DICTIONARY.

WE HAVE TO PUT IN THE WORK FIRST.

AND WHEN I GET THEM TO BUY INTO THAT, THE SUCCESS JUST FOLLOWS AND I'M SEEING IT AND LIVING IT DAILY.

>> SPEAKING OF LIVING IT DAILY.

YOU ARE A DAD.

YOU HAVE A TWO-MONTH-OLD YOU MENTIONED.

>> YES.

>> SO WHAT IS THIS WORK MEAN TO YOU PERSONALLY?

>> IT'S MY MOTIVATION.

MY KIDS ARE MY MOTIVATION FOR DOING THIS WORK.

I WANT PEOPLE THAT I WORK WITH TO HAVE THE SAME FEELING BEING WITH THEIR KIDS THAT I HAVE, FOR INSTANCE WHEN I WALK IN THE HOUSE, THE FIRST THING THAT MY SON DOES THIS SMILE THING HE DOES AND IT LIGHTS UP MY DAY.

AND WHETHER I'M HAVING A BAD DAY, IT ALL GOES AWAY AND I KNOW I'M IN THE HOUSE, HE IS HAPPY TO SEE ME.

I'M HAPPY TO SEE HIM AND HERE I AM BEING A DAD AND ALL MY WORRIES GO AWAY.

SO I WANT MY CLIENTS TO HAVE THE SAME EXACT FEELING.

>> WHEN I CAME HOME FROM WORK YEARS AGO WHEN MY KIDS WERE LITTLE, MY SON DID THE SAME THING.

HE WOULD GIVE ME THIS WHOLE BODY SMILE AND IT MADE THE WHOLE WORLD, EVERYTHING, ALL THE TROUBLES DISAPPEAR.

IT WAS JUST THE BEST.

SO THAT IS SUCCESS FOR YOU.

THAT WAS SUCCESS FOR ME.

HOW ABOUT YOU GUYS?

BETHANY?

WHAT IS SUCCESS?

>> WHEN WE HAVE A MOM COME TO US WHO IS REALLY SCARED, FEELS ALONE, DOESN'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, MIGHT BE A SINGLE MOM AND NOT A LOT OF SUPPORT, DOUBTING THEMSELVES AND YOU SEE THEM JUST SPEND A LITTLE TIME BEING, TUNING INTO THEIR CHILD, FORMING THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM, AND THEIR CONFIDENCE KICKS IN, AND THEY REALIZE, I CAN DO THIS.

>> THEIR NATURAL CONNECTION WITH THEIR BABY.

>> YOU SEE THEM LIGHT UP.

AND WHEN THEY NO LONGER NEED OUR SUPPORT.

THAT'S THE GOAL, TO GET OUR CLIENTS TO NO LONGER NEED TO WORK WITH US ANY LONGER BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT THE CONFIDENCE AND THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN ALWAYS COME BACK IF THEY NEED HELP, BUT WHEN THEY'RE ON THEIR OWN AND THEY'VE GOT THAT CONFIDENCE, JUST, WE KNOW WE ARE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.

>> SO SUNNY, HOW DO PEOPLE FIND YOU GUYS?

>> SO IF ANYBODY WERE TO CALL THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE 315-435-2920, THAT WILL TAKE TO YOU THE HEALTHY FAMILIES DIVISION AND ALSO WE ARE ONLINE AT ONHEALTHYFAMILIES.COM AND THAT WILL TAKE YOU TO ALL OF THE COMMUNITY RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE FOR HEALTHY FAMILIES, NOT JUST THE HEALTHY START PROGRAM.

>> 211 ALSO?

>> YEAH, SO 211, THEY'RE ABLE TO MAKE CONNECTIONS TO DIFFERENT PROGRAMS ALL THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND WE ARE ONE OF THOSE.

>> YOU ARE IN THERE.

>> WE ARE PART OF THEIR SYSTEM.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> TERRIFIC.

>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

I WANT TO THANK OUR SYRACUSE HEALTHY START GUESTS SUNNY JONES: PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATOR JEHROD HALL: FATHERHOOD SPECIALIST AND BETHANY CREASER: PROGRAM OFFICER OF CLINICAL, FAMILY, & PEER SUPPORT SERVICES AT CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF ONONDAGA COUNTY AND OUR SPECIAL GUEST GROVER AND BIG BIRD.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE PRIOR EPISODES FROM THIS SEASON VISIT OUR WEBSITE, WCNY.ORG/CYCLEOFHEALTH AND CLICK ON THE SEASON 14 TAB.

YOU'LL ALSO FIND PREVIOUS SEASONS AND OUR WEB SERIES, CHECKUP FROM OUR NECK UP.

FOR CYCLE OF HEALTH, I'M PSYCHOLOGIST DR. RICH O'NEILL.

THANKS FOR CHECKING IN.

SINCE IT'S OUR SEASON 14 FINALE, HOW ABOUT SOMETHING EXTRA SPECIAL.

HOW ABOUT A WHOLE BODY SMILE!

A WHOLE BODY SMILE FOR EVERYBODY.

AND HOW ABOUT SOMETHING SPECIAL EXTRA SPECIAL.

MY WISCONSIN COUSINS ARE A TRAVELING MUSICAL DUO SO, I THOUGHT, "HOW ABOUT A LITTLE DITTY FOR CYCLE OF HEALTH!"

HERE'S WHAT WE COOKED UP.

SEE YOU NEXT SEASON, FOLKS.

♪ IF YOU WANT THE LATEST DATA, ♪ ON AVOIDING DEFIBRILLATORS ♪ AND THE THOUGHT OF DIABETES, VGIVES YOU HEEBIE-JEEBIES ♪ IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR ♪ COGITATING, WORKING AS YOU'RE ♪ AGING ♪ DESIRE SOME MORE FIRE, WHEN ♪ YOU AND SWEETIE-PIE RETIRE ♪ TUNE YOUR TELLY, TO OUR CYCLE ♪ OF HEALTH!

♪ IF YOU WANT THE BEST-EST ♪ ANSWERS, ON SCOTCHING ALL ♪ ANSWERS, ON SCOTCHING ALL ♪ ANSWERS, ON SCOTCHING ALL ANSWERS, ON SCOTCHING ALL THOSE CANCERS ♪ YOU'RE THINKIN' THAT YOUR ♪ BLINKERS, HAVE BECOME SOME ♪ BLINKERS, HAVE BECOME SOME BLINKERS, HAVE BECOME SOME REAL ♪ STINKERS ♪ YOU FEAR YOUR EARS, NO LONGER ♪ HEAR SO CRYSTAL CLEAR ♪ PEEK IN AND TO LISTEN, TO DOCS ♪ TUNE YOUR TELLY, TO OUR CYCLE ♪ OF HEALTH!

♪ IF YOU'RE SEARCHIN' FOR ♪ RESEARCH, TO KEEP YOUR BOD ♪ RESEARCH, TO KEEP YOUR BOD RESEARCH, TO KEEP YOUR BOD ABOVE ♪ THE SOD ♪ WANT A CHECKUP FOR YOUR ♪ NECKUP, WHEN THE ACHIN' JUST ♪ WON'T LET UP ♪ YOU WONDER HOW MUCH MOVING, ♪ COULD GET YOU BACK TO GROOVIN' ♪ CRAVE MORE DEEP, AS PART AND ♪ ♪ PARCEL OF YOUR SLEEP ♪ TUNE YOUR TELLY, TO OUR CYCLE ♪ OF HEALTH!

♪ ROLL UP TO OUR CYCLE OF HEALTH ♪ ROCK AND ROLL TO OUR CYCLE OF ♪ HEALTH ♪ TUNE YOUR TELLY, TO OUR CYCLE ♪ OF HEALTH!

>> THAT WAS IT.